Harper's Novels
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Cali, Patrick
Date Posted: 11th April 2007
Characters: N'call, Karri
Description: N'call and Karri meet _coincidentally_ on a beach and have a chat.
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 3, day 11 of Turn 4
"Okay, okay, Next one: What is your _favorite_ color of dragon? And don't just say green cause you ride one." N'call wagged a finger at Karri's face in mock severity.
Karri laughed then took up a thinker's pose to try and decide. "I guess blue then if I can't choose green. I've always loved the color and they are such sweet things."
N'call made a fake pout. "Aww, not bronze? I'm hurt." He grinned to show his joke. "I like blue's too. They can be so sweet and their riders can be such good listeners. Alright," He tapped his chin with his finger. "Got it! If you could have been _anything_ on Pern when you were younger what would it have been?"
She might have said bronze, but then he would have thought she picked it for him... and she didn't want him getting the wrong idea. "I guess I always had a dream of being an explorer. I was always roving the hills of our mountain hold. I knew I was going to be given away as a wife though so I didn't really have realistic goals like a craft or anything."
"Well now you're the ultimate explorer. You can go anywhere on your dragon." He couldn't seem to keep a smile off his face. "As you know I was a Harper first. Ok, so I know your birthday, your favorite food, your favorite color of dragon. What else..." He thought for a moment as they walked, their dragon's keeping pace in the surf. "Don't feel pressured to answer this, cause it's a bit personal but, what do you consider to be the perfect weyrmate?"
She chuckled again, "Do you have to know _everything_
about me? I thought girls were always supposed to be the ones asking questions and guys were supposed to just enjoy the silences." "It's the harper training. We're trained to ask questions." He grinned. "Besides I like to know the inner thoughts of my friends. It makes for good blackmail." He winked boradly to show his jest.
She bent over to pick up a shell half hidden in the sand and started to examine it. "Well, I don't think about stuff like that I guess. I don't want a weyrmate."
Inside N'call's heart fell. Another girl he couldn't have, of course. "Well then think about it now. Picture that man that would make you swoon." He put his hand to his forhead and made a feinting gesture.
"I've just..." she didn't know how to explain, but his lightheartedness helped ease her guard. "A friend of mine was in love with a guy and he was a pretty big jerk and stomped all over her heart. I just don't want that to happen to me too."
N'call pulled on an overly serious face and looked at her as if he was seeing her through thick spectacles. "Ah a clear case of projection. You're scared to meet people for fear that what happened to your friend will happen to you. My daignosis: A dance." He then proceeded to sweep her arms up and led her in a simple waltz across the sand. He was glad no one was there, he was a terrible dancer.
She let him carry her along for a moment, unable to stop the laughter that bubbled out, but then she pulled out of his arms and settled herself. "No, I'm not scared to meet people. If I was, I wouldn't be enjoying a walk with you. I'm just smart enough to realize that falling in love and getting married-or weyrmated, and whatever else is repeatedly crammed down our throats by harper tales is just a bunch of sharding wherry dung." "Oh, you hurt me with your harsh words." N'call put a hand on his chest. "My heart is broken on your insult to my profession." He took his free hand and flicked her nose with one finger. "I can't believe you'd think such slander would be spread by noble Harpers." "But its not all bad. I won't go so far as to say that everyone has a soulmate. But I think that the thought of candle-lit dinners, dancing the night away, and spending nights just cuddling in each other's arms is rather endearing." He smiled. "But what can I say, I'm a romantic." He took her hands in his and looked at her seriously for a moment. "One last question: did you enjoy this walk as much as I did?"
Karri gave him a smile, she couldn't _not_, "I enjoyed it very much... but in a completely non-sappy romantic way." N'call winked. "Of course you didn't." He smiled and kissed her hand. "Until we next meet fair Karri." His dragon was suddenly there, which was a feat for a big bronze dragon, and N'call vaulted to Haloth's neck. The bronze lifted from the ground in a rush of sand and wings and winked /between/.
As the greenrider watched them go, all she could think was **Somebody has been reading too many harper romances.**
Last updated on the April 11th 2007